Student Innovators Shine at Science and Technology Showcase

Seven student teams took home prizes from the 12th Annual Science and Technology Showcase (STS) at the University of Washington. Grand Prize sponsor Magic AI presented $1,000 to a team of engineering students for their innovative approach to providing real-time data on blood flow fluctuation in a patient experiencing cardiac arrest. A complete list of the winning teams is detailed below.

The STS is co-hosted by the UW Foster School’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship and the Science and Engineering Business Association (SEBA) student organization. This year’s competition featured nineteen teams from colleges and schools across campus. The showcase provides University of Washington students with the opportunity to pitch the commercial potential of their science- and technology-based innovations. Seattle-area entrepreneurs and investors served as judges and also provided in-person feedback and mentorship.

$500 ARIVALE SECOND PLACE PRIZE: OTOGEAR

OTOGEAR uses hearing protection technology to reduce or eliminate dangerous noise levels in the workplace, while also alerting employees to the sound levels at a job site upon entrance.

$300 WRF CAPITAL THIRD PLACE PRIZE: 4TH-PHASE

4TH-PHASE seeks to solve the problem of high-operational expenses for indoor famers looking to address the global food crisis. 4TH-PHASE technology maximizes the ability of water to fuel plant growth while improving crop yield without additional resources.

$100 DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE MOST INNOVATIVE AWARD: OLICO

OLICO developed a platform for designing protein-based therapeutics to treat cancer and other diseases. The technology represents an opportunity to engineer “the next generation of biologics.”

$100 DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE BEST MARKETING STRATEGY AWARD: OTOGEAR

OTOGEAR uses hearing protection technology to reduce or eliminate dangerous noise levels in the workplace, while also alerting employees to the sound levels at a job site upon entrance.

$100 DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE MOST ENTHUSIASM AWARD: GRADSTRY

GRADSTRY connects businesses seeking talent for short-term projects with qualified graduate students. The user-friendly online talent portal provides users an easier way to comb through applicant data and match them with the right project.

$100 DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE BEST POSTER AWARD: MAPSENGER

MAPSENGER developed a map-based real-time messaging application that allows users to discuss, search, and share places to meet among a group of nearby friends.

$100 DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE BEST COMMUNICATOR AWARD: GLIMPSE WEARABLES

GLIMPSE WEARABLES is developing smart-glasses and wearable-camera technology to give users a way to avoid the distraction of looking down at smartphones while things happening in front of them.

About the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship

The Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the Foster School runs undergraduate programs including the highly competitive Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, graduate programs including the Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate, and the Jones + Foster Accelerator. The Buerk Center also hosts three large competitions focused on student innovation: the UW Business Plan Competition (founded in 1998), the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge (founded in 2009), and the Health Innovation Challenge.